McGinnis: Misadventures in theater

Having the chance to interview local theater legends like Jennifer Rockwood always brings to mind how much I love theater, and have almost all my life. I love acting, I love directing, I love watching other people perform. Theater is as big a part of my soul as almost anything you can name, which is somewhat odd when you consider that my first memory of being on stage was a feeling of utter humiliation.

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Like most everyone, my first show came in the form of an elementary school “pageant” during first grade. I was a proud attendee of Luckey Elementary in rural Ohio, a wonderful three-floor brick building that I believe hasn’t changed in all its decades of existence. I visited there a few years back and the place seemed exactly the same, apart from feeling incomparably smaller than it had during my youth.

My elementary school days were largely spent daydreaming. I was a notoriously lazy student when it came to actual schoolwork. How could I concentrate on math problems and parts of a sentence when the world was in peril and only I, along with my trusty pals Optimus Prime and He-Man, could be counted on to save it?

One of the few classes I could be counted on to pay attention in was music. In a small room in the school’s basement, we would while away hours practicing scales and singing songs while perched on tiny squares of carpet. It was in music class that we learned of our big stage debuts in the upcoming Christmas pageant.

Grade school shows, at least in my childhood, can only be called “theater” in the loosest sense of the word — dozens of kids crammed onto a small stage, singing with terrified smiles plastered onto their faces. When time came for “dialogue,” a member of the young “chorus” made their way down to one of the two stand-up microphones on the stage, said their line and then shuffled back to their place in the menagerie, the big moment of glory over before it began.

There were no tryouts or auditions for these shows; you earned a part by simply existing. My role for my theatrical debut was a jack-in-the-box in a show where toys came to life; decades of separation have dulled my memory of the remainder of the “plot.” I do, however, remember my first line with terrifying clarity: “Jumping for joy! Oh, this is so exciting! First the star, and now, Sammy!”

Please note that “Jumping for joy!” was not actually part of my line. It was a stage direction, meant to instruct the actor on what he or she was supposed to be doing — jumping about being a rather natural activity for a jack-in-the-box. However, I assumed that since it was written there, I was supposed to say that too, and my long-suffering music teacher gave up on correcting me about 10 minutes into the first rehearsal.

The night of the pageant arrived, and I was ready. I had a wonderful costume lovingly crafted by my mother out of an old television box, with my head poking out the top and hands barely peeking out the sides — less a jack-in-the-box than a jack-IS-the-box. I had my lone line memorized and my choreography (Jumping for joy!) down pat. There was no trace of stage fright in my mind.

Finally, my time came. I strode to the microphone and with every eye in the auditorium on me, began my line: “Jumping for joy! Oh, this is so exciting! First the star and now — BWAAAAANG!!!”

That last bit was not a word I said. It was the sound of feedback made when, as I was “jumping for joy!,” the corner of my costume/box slammed directly into the microphone in front of me.

Pandemonium. Literally EVERYONE in the auditorium exploded into laughter. I looked dumbfounded at a sea of faces roaring at my blunder. I looked down at my kindly music teacher, and even she was doubled over and covering her face. Bewildered and embarrassed, I turned back to one of my fellow chorus members/toys: “Should … should I do it again?”

So yeah, it’s a little remarkable that I still have such a fondness for the stage, what with my first memory of the spotlight ending in such utter humiliation. Maybe it’s simple practicality. Really, what could possibly happen that could be worse than that? Or perhaps, like the old phrase, I laugh, that I may not cry.

Or jump for joy.

Jeff McGinnis is Pop Culture Editor at Toledo Free Press. He can be reached at PopGoesJeff@gmail.com.

Croswell hiring for summer internships

The Croswell Opera House in Adrian, Michigan, will hire eight full-time interns for this summer season.

Interns will be divided into different sections of the theater: arts marketing and box office, costuming, technical, properties and wigs, hair and makeup. The interns will have the opportunity to work with professional actors, directors and designers.

Interns will work on elaborate shows including “Into The Woods,” “Mary Poppins,” “Big Fish” and “Memphis,” said Director of Marketing and Audience Development Erik Gable. The shows offer challenges to learn from, he said.

The theater is looking for people who are reliable and have passion for the performing arts, he added.

Interns will work for 13 weeks from May to August and all positions will require some evening and weekend hours. Each intern will receive a stipend of $250 per week and the Croswell can assist in finding “reasonably priced housing” if necessary.

Applicants must be enrolled in college as of fall 2015 or have graduated in spring 2015. All interns must be 18 years old by the internship’s start date.

To apply, send a cover letter, resume and three references to Business Manager Steve Krause at skrause@croswell.org. Applications are due by 5 p.m. March 6.

Also, auditions to be cast in any summer shows will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 21, 6-9 p.m. March 22 and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 28.

For more information, visit Croswell.org/internships or call (517) 263-6868.

Village Players show focuses on ‘growing old with dignity’

The Village Player’s production of “Quartet” aims to change your perception of senior citizens.

The comedic drama follows four retired opera singers who must deal with the harsh realities of aging when an ex-wife shows up and causes friction.

“It’s a really beautiful play about growing old with dignity, which is really what drew me to it,” said Jeff Albright, director.

Actors Carol Ann Erford and Bill Quinlan in The Village Players’ “Quartet.” Photo by Jake Gordy

“I have older parents, and I’ve always been interested in that whole process as I’m going through it with them,” Albright said. “We often throw senior citizens to the wayside as a forgotten population, and this play really shows how vital they can be.”

According to Albright, Toledo has a rich population of older actors who don’t get enough opportunities to showcase their abilities.

Carol Ann Erford plays Cecily, a character in the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s. Erford said that although Cecily serves as comic relief, she’s a very layered character who can move audiences to tears as quickly as laughter.

“It’s wonderful to see how these older characters react to each other,” Erford said. “Audiences will see bits and pieces of themselves and their parents in these roles, especially those approaching mature age.”

Erford claims that her passion for acting began in the ’60s, when there weren’t nearly as many performance opportunities for younger actors.

“It was ensemble learning back then, which comes in handy with a show like this because if one person gets hung up on a line, someone else can jump in and save them,” Erford said.

An interesting challenge for John DuVall, who plays Reginald Paget, is portraying a character 30 years outside his range.

“It’s a new thing for me. I think the majority of it is through body language and facial expressions,” DuVall said. “It’s all elevated by makeup, but we really don’t rely too heavily on that.”

DuVall said the play explores how no senior citizen is just another face in the crowd, and how everyone you see has an interesting story to tell about their life.

“You’re not always an old person. Everyone has a history, and this play talks a lot about that. For me, as a younger actor playing someone so old, it really made me think,” DuVall said.

With 30 years of directing experience, Albright finds his equal passion for acting gives him an advantage with his cast.

“It helps because we all speak the same sort of language, so there’s a level of intuitiveness about the process,” said Albright.

“Quartet” plays Sept. 12-13 and 18-20 at 8 p.m. and Sept. 14 at 2 p.m. The Village Players Theatre is located at 2740 Upton Ave. Tickets are available at (419) 472-6817 for $16, or $14 for students and seniors.. O

Summerstock Toledo to present ‘Little Shop of Horrors’

Over 35 Ohio high school students are out to show what young adults can create when given total artistic freedom.

Members of Summerstock Toledo’s cast and production staff for ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ promoting the upcoming production at a Toledo Mud Hens game. Photo courtesy Summerstock Toledo.

For its fifth year, Summerstock Toledo will put an entire theatrical production in the hands of youth.

“I don’t think many people believe students are capable of handling all the backstage duties or being authoritative enough to run each other,” said Thomas Rabuano, co-producer of Summerstock. “But when you put a show completely in students’ hands, what they come up with is absolutely wonderful.”

Responsibilities include acting, directing, producing, set design, advertisement and fundraising.

“I think the common view among older people is that our generation spends all our time goofing off and playing videogames, but that’s not true at all,” said David Henninger, co-producer.

As recent high school graduates, Rabuano and Henninger said Summerstock has given them tools necessary to pursue careers in theater.

“It really helps us make that transition between high school, where we have to raise our hand to go to the bathroom, and college, where we can do whatever we want,” Henninger said.

One student is assigned to each area of production, with the exception of advertising and areas where multiple people are needed. The orchestra pit also consists mainly of students, with the exception of a few adult volunteers.

Although students make every decision in the production process, an adult moderator is on set to provide guidance.

Each year the Summerstock budget begins at $0, which makes fundraising one of its biggest challenges.

“We begin each year with nothing in our bank account, and throughout the summer we use fundraisers and donations from outside businesses to raise all the money to make production happen,” Henninger said.

Many students on the production team plan on careers in theater, but Henninger said many students with very little experience in theater have stepped out of their comfort zones to participate.

“It’s just amazing when you see what students can really do when they’re passionate about something like this. Everyone puts hard work into what they’re doing, whether they’re designing the set or working on choreography,” Rabuano said.

Students eligible to participate in Summerstock have completed their freshman year of high school, and are able to participate until graduation.

According to Henninger, Summerstock teaches interpersonal skills in an on-the-job setting.

“You have to communicate with your partners and touch base with them, checking in with everyone else on the production staff before making serious decisions,” Henninger said.

“People think with all the technology involved it’s really easy to communicate, but it can also make situations more difficult with misunderstandings, whether it’s simple things or big decisions,” Rabuano said.

This season the Summerstock board chose “Little Shop of Horrors,” a family-friendly black comedy.

This play follows Seymour, the unfortunate florist who stumbles across a carnivorous R&B-singing plant named Audrey II. As the foul-mouthed plant develops a taste for human blood, it’s up to Seymour to prevent its quest for world domination.

“We chose this show because it’s fun for all ages, and it provides the small cast experience you really can’t find anywhere else,” Henninger said.

As a nonprofit organization, Summerstock seeks a different Toledo venue each year.

This year’s production will be held at McQuade Theater at St. John Jesuit High School, 5901 Airport Hwy. Showtimes are 7 p.m. Aug 1-2 and 2 p.m. Aug 3. Tickets are $8 for students, $10 for adults or $12 for preferred seating (first three rows), available at the door.

Review: A ‘Secret Garden’ in the attic

Tucked beside a barbed-wire-fenced parking lot on 10th St., The Toledo Repertoire Theatre has an unpromising exterior. But onstage for The Rep’s current production of “The Secret Garden,” the visual is the strongpoint.

In the show, a young orphan named Mary Lennox comes to live in a gloomy Gothic mansion with her despairing uncle Archibald Craven, who is heart-broken over his wife’s death.

Director Matthew Bowland and his creative team have conceived the show as a series of Mary’s memories played out decades later when her grandchildren visit the attic of the house that haunted her as a child.

Scene from 'Secret Garden'

The concept allows The Rep, which has little space to work with, to stage the entire show within the attic, forcing the audience to imagine a Gothic mansion and ivy-covered garden. The clever set design minimizes scene changes as old knick-knack-filled chests become furniture, a wardrobe becomes a doorway for ghosts and an upper level of brick becomes a garden wall.

The conceit complements “The Secret Garden’s” already dreamy quality, as a Greek chorus of ghosts or memories wanders the halls and enchantments fill the magical garden.

The downside of the presentation is that the setting remains static as the storyline moves out of the gloomy halls and into the sunshine. This puts an extra burden on the actors to portray the trajectory from grief to hope.

Scott O’Brien plays Archibald, the show’s emotional center and true protagonist. Archibald’s journey, as he learns to again embrace life and the people around him, depends on a clear portrayal by the actor of both crippling sorrow and intense love and joy.

O’Brien, who has a full, rich voice and performs his songs flawlessly, rarely communicates more than a sulky depression. His, and the show’s, best moment came near the end in a moving duet with Lily, his wife’s spirit. O’Brien seemed for the first time to lose himself in the scene. It was also the first time his voice cracked with emotion.

Drew Longmore, 11, plays Mary Lennox. Her delicate vocals and mature stage presence are a highlight, as is her chemistry with 12-year-old Maxwell Lay, who plays the lonely, crippled Colin Craven. Lay has a beautiful voice, and the children’s scenes together as they fight, make up and become friends are some of production’s most charming.

The Dreamer chorus is another highlight, performing their dances — ably choreographed by Debra Ross Calabrese — with energy. Their tight vocal harmonies have a richness and volume that belies their small number, and several, most notably Jake Gordy as Capt. Albert Lennox, Jared Dorotiak as Major Holmes and Emily Taplin as the Ayah, stand out with great solo pieces.

Tickets are $22 for an adult, $20 for a senior, $5 for students 12 and younger, $10 for students 13 and above and $10 for a group of 10 or more. Remaining performances are June 16, 17 and 18 at 8:00 p.m. and June 19 at 2:30 p.m. Visit the website at www.toledorep.org. or call call 419-243-9277 for more information.

‘Bloody Poetry’ examines lives, loves of literary legends

Bowling Green State University has recently become a hotbed for free love and radical politics. I’m not talking about the return of the 1960s, but the university’s production of Howard Brenton’s renowned play “Bloody Poetry.” The show, which examines the lives and loves of romantic literary figures Lord Byron, Claire Clairemont, Percy Bysshe Shelley and Mary Shelley, is set to open in the Joe E. Brown Theatre, located in University Hall, on Feb. 17.

For Chambers, this production is more than a labor of love; it’s the culmination of a romance that has been brewing for decades.

“I first became aware of the piece in grad school, nearly 20 years ago. The thing that first struck me about it was that these figures were flesh and blood, they had vitality,” Chambers said. “The thing that has hit me recently is just how young they were, which didn’t seem like such a big deal when I first read the play, perhaps because I was younger then myself. I have also become more aware of just how much Mary Shelley changes throughout the play.”

Chambers, who is currently an associate professor in the Department of Theatre and Film, has taught at BGSU for 10 years, covering subjects such as criticism and theory, and acting. He received his M.F.A. from Virginia Commonwealth University and a doctorate from Southern Illinois University. Past directing credits include “Quiet in the Land,” “Polaroid Stories” and “The Importance of Being Ernest,” to name a few.

“I think the most interesting thing about this piece is the juxtaposition between these people’s ideals and their truly deplorable actions. It looks at the limits of poetry and asks the question, what does it mean to live a life of love and freedom? I’m not sure that they really succeed, but it is compelling to watch them try. The play offers a really nice discussion that speaks to anyone.”

“Bloody Poetry” runs Feb. 17 through 19 at 8 p.m. and Feb. 19 and 20 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults and $9 for students and seniors. Ticket purchases made on the day of the show include a $3 surcharge.

UT’s Jennifer Rockwood prepares new play

If you’ve never met a mermaid in a Tennessee diner, you haven’t spent time around playwright Jennifer Rockwood’s imagination.

Rockwood, director of the University of Toledo’s first year experience program, will expose that imagination Dec. 10. Actors will read her latest three-act play, “Watershed,” at 7:30 p.m. in the Center Theatre.

“Stage reading is the first time that the playwright gets to get the play out of their head,” said Rockwood, who has worked in UT theater for more than 23 years. “It’s kind of like standing up naked in front of everybody. The actors are helping me bring the birthing of my play.”

Rockwood has directed 80 plays and has been involved with more than 100 productions, she said. Writing has been a recent endeavor, as she just picked up the pen for the first time this summer since graduate school.

She wrote one-acts about psychiatrist-patient interactions and the meaning of life through frazzled mothers’ eyes this summer.

By August, she found herself waking up at odd times in the middle of the night to scribble ideas for what soon became “Watershed,” a semi-violent comedy packed with metaphors and “verbal fireworks.”

Jennifer Rockwood

“It’s a lot of stuff in a pot,” Rockwood said. “Take a mermaid and have her sort of wash up in a diner in Tennessee with two twin brothers and see where that goes.”

The play involves sibling rivalry and secrets, water pollution and the role that water plays in our lives. Rockwood said she uses water as a metaphor for the elements that sustain us. The mermaid in the diner will represent a magical figure with the ability to bring characters up or take them down, she said.

Although she described her play as a comedy, the label is not so simple.

“I like plays where you laugh at a lot of things,” she said. “And then you think about it and realize it’s not really that funny.”

Rockwood, whose favorite Shakespeare play is the family politics-driven “King Lear,” draws much of her inspiration from her own family. She has two sons in their 20s who she said swap various roles of good boy, bad boy at different times. All siblings are inherent rivals, she added. Eavesdropping proves a fruitful idea-gatherer.

“Sometimes you’re in a restaurant and you hear a married couple talking and you say, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s the opening line of a play,’” she said.

Presenting “Watershed” as a reading will help Rockwood decide what she needs to alter and what she needs to keep the same. Depending upon how her reading is received, she plans to eventually release it as a fully produced play.

Writing a play has given Rockwood an exciting new role in the hierarchy of theater, she said.

“I don’t like to take direction, I give it,” she said. “I’m a bossy person. I have a vision and I want it my way. Writing the play is one step higher than being a director.”

But for Rockwood, theater means much more than taking charge.

“Theater creates this moment in time that is living and breathing and full of all of these different components,” she said. “And everything can go wrong at the same time.”

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Theater

Theater review: ‘Working’

BGSU’s latest production of “Working” gave its audience a powerful portrait of America’s workforce. “Working” is a collection of actual statements by people who work in and around Chicago, adapted into songs and monologues. The source of these statements is Stud Terkel’s best-selling book, “Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do.” Stephen Schwartz and Nina Faso adapted it. The responses span 1978 to the present. The actor’s performances made their audience realize that the characters in “Working” are real people.

Kyle Parker brought authenticity to his performance of Mike Dillard, an ironworker. Parker’s nonchalant tone told the audience that Mike knows his job like the back of his hand. Parker’s delighted visage and occasional chuckle made the audience feel like they were listening to a friend. In the song, “Fathers and Sons,” the emotion in Parker’s voice conveyed Mike’s longing to be with his father, as well as hope for his son’s future.

Dawn Schluetz conveyed the helplessness Rose Hoffman feels as a teacher who has taught the “traditional” way for 40 years. In the elegiac, “Nobody Tells Me How,” the mixture of sadness and frustration in Schluetz’s voice made the audience feel empathy for Rose. When Schluetz rested her glasses on her nose and sternly looked at the audience, she conveyed Rose’s love for organization and “the old days.”

Amy Hunsaker gave a phenomenal performance as Grace Clemens, a millworker. Hunsaker’s accepting tone and robotic gestures in the song, “Millwork,” communicated that, while Grace does not want to work in a factory, she has no other option. As Hunsaker sang the upbeat, “If I Could’ve Been,” her confident tone and undeniable grin made the audience share Grace’s lamenting.

The production was cognizant of today’s uncertain job market. At the beginning of Act Two, a screen showed employment statistics and interviews with people who had lost their job. The fact that ten percent of Americans are unemployed served as a reminder that all occupations are meaningful. Seeing people talk about losing their jobs illustrated the impact that unemployment has on a person’s life.

Talented musicians set the tone and setting of each song. The musicians included a lead guitarist (Doug Neel), a second guitarist (Paul Clohn), a bassist (Adam Meinerding) and a percussionist (Laine Smith). In the song “Lovin Al,” a Temptations-style number, these musicians made music as smooth as Al Calinda’s (Franklin Brewer) dancing. In the song “Un Mejor Dia Vendra,” a guitar gave heart to a Spanish melody.

“Working” applauds people who care about serving others before themselves, regardless of their occupation. In the song, “Something to Point To,” the characters sing about how, when the day is done, they can feel satisfied knowing they helped create something that benefits others. The same is true about the cast and crew of “Working.”

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Events

Events Calendar, March 31, 2010

Wildwood Manor House tours: Built in the 1930s in the Georgian Colonial style, the Manor House was the estate of the Stranahans, the patriarch of which co-founded the Chhampion Spark Plug Co. Tours at quarter after and quarter till the hour noon-5 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays, Wildwood Preserve Metropark, 5100 W. Central Ave. (419) 407-9700 or metroparkstoledo.com.

Blood drives: The Western Lake Erie Region of the American Red Cross will hold several drives this month. Starred drives indicate appointments are preferred. For more information or opportunities to donate, call (800) 448-3543.

> UT interim dean of students Michele Martinez will discuss “Latinos in Higher Education” April 1.

> “Retention Does Not Equal Satisfaction: An Examination of Involvement Factors Among Students of Color” will be discussed by UT Equity and Diversity Assistant Vice President Shanda L. Gore April 8.

“A Nation of Watchdogs: Citizen Journalists and Traditional Journalists.” The Toledo Free Press Editor in Chief Michael Miller, “Glass City Jungle” blogger Lisa Renee Ward and and blogger and former public official Maggie Thurber will be panelists at UT’s 11th Annual First Amendment Freedom Forum. 7 p.m. April 1, UT Law Center auditorium, West Towerview Boulevard and West Rocket Drive, 2801 W. Bancroft St.

Turning Found Wood: An instructor will demonstrate use wood found in the yard, driftwood, etc, for creative projects. 1-2:30 p.m. April 3, Woodcraft, 5311 Airport Hwy. (419) 389-0560 or www.woodcraft.com.

Wine by the Glass Pavilion: Visitors can try four wines and appetizers and check out the TMA hot shop. 7-9:30 p.m. Fridays, 2445 Monroe St. $20. (419) 255-8000 or toledomuseum.org.

> New French Discoveries: April 9.

Glass City Singles dances: Dancers are invited to don their best Easter bonnets for this dance. 8:30 p.m.-midnight April 9, Gladieux Meadows, 4880 Heatherdowns Blvd. $7. (734) 856-8963 or www.toledosingles.com.

“A Call to Arms”: Randy Brown, president of the Fallen Timbers Battlefield Commission, will detail the site’s history and plans for its future. 7 p.m. April 6, Side Cut Metropark, Riverview parking lot, 1025 River Road, Maumee. (419) 407-9700 or metroparkstoledo.com.

“Playing Ball with Legends”: James Irwin will discuss the career of Don Lund, from Ebbets Field to the University of Michigan, detailed in his biography. Noon April 10, Barnes & Noble, 4940 Monroe St. (419) 472-6164.

The Bead Goes On: The TMA hopes to collect 10,000 hand-made beads made by the public in a various media to create a curtain to be displayed at the museum. Entries will be accepted through October. 2445 Monroe St. (419) 255-8000 or toledomuseum.org/PDF/BGOProspectus.pdf.

> “Bare Witness: Photographs by Gordon Parks.” A pioneer in multiple art forms, Parks’ lens work will be highlighted, offering a “cross section of the human experience.” Through April 25, Canaday Gallery.

> TMA High School Art Council: The work of 30 students from 15 schools will be represented. Through April 25, Community Galleries.

> Quest for Fire Studios: The participating artists “create iconoclastic images of soul and thought while using diverse methods and media.” Through May 2, Community Galleries.

> “Mexico’s Toledo”: The works of Francisco Toledo, a contemporary Latino printmaker, “are records of things and beings in dreamlike scenarios, both menacing and playful, full of pattern and movement.” Through May 9, Gallery 18.

> “Whistler: Influences, Friends and the Not-So-Friendly.” The work of James Abbott McNeill Whistler will be exhibited within the context of his contemporaries, influences, friends and enemies. Through May 30, Works on Paper galleries.

“Absolut Europa”: Original prints by some of Europe’s most iconic 20th-century artists. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays through April 3, River House Arts, 115 W. Front St., Perrysburg. (419) 874-8900 or river-house-arts.com.

“Travelogue”: The center’s director of photography, Art Weber, will display some of the best shots from his travels. Noon-5 p.m. weekends and during special events, through April 4, National Center for Nature Photography, Secor Metropark, 10000 W. Central Ave., Berkey. (419) 407-9700.

“The Wilds”: “One of the largest and most innovative wildlife conservation centers in the world,” the Wilds is located on nearly 10,000 acres in southeast and contains rare and endangered species from around the world. Noon-5 p.m. weekends and during special events, through April 4, National Center for Nature Photography, Secor Metropark, 10000 W. Central Ave., Berkey. (419) 407-9700.

“Raptors”: Photographers share their images of birds of prey. Noon-5 p.m. weekends and during special events, through April 4, National Center for Nature Photography, Secor Metropark, 10000 W. Central Ave., Berkey. (419) 407-9700.

“Outdoor Writers of America Association Annual Photography Contest Winners”: This professional group of communicators will display its best landscapes and wildlife shots. Noon-5 p.m. weekends and during special events, through April 4, National Center for Nature Photography, Secor Metropark, 10000 W. Central Ave., Berkey. (419) 407-9700.

10th Annual Connect to Creativity Teen Art Show: Youth Art Month means displays of work by local teens will be displayed in the Wintergarden and Promenade of the Main Library. Noon-8:30 p.m. Mondays-Tuesdays; 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays through April 24, 325 N. Michigan St. Students can call (419) 418-2252 to participate.

“Switch Hitters III”: Was it a challenge? Laziness? Something else? Viewers can decide upon viewing these works designed by one artist then constructed by another. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays and 1-4 p.m. Sundays through April 25, Flatlanders Art Galleries, 11993 E. U.S. 223, Blissfield, Mich. (517) 486-4591 or www.flatlandersculpture.com.

“Design in Progress”: The Henry Ford Museum will “celebrate the world of design, from the magnificent to the mundane, from things that startle us to things we barely notice.” 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. daily through April 25, Henry Ford Museum, 20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn, Mich. $11-$14; $5 parking. (313) 982-6001, (800) 835-5237 or www.thehenryford.org.

2010 Spring Art Show: Artwork was submitted in February to be displayed in this show. 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays when classes are in session through May 7, UT’s Catherine S. Eberly Center for Women, 2801 W. Bancroft St., Tucker Hall Room 180, off Campus Road. (419) 530-8570 or www.utoledo.edu/centers/eberly.

Year for Priests traveling art show: Artists young and old from across the Diocese of Toledo’s 19 counties submitted work in a range of media pertaining to the “Year for Priests” theme. (419) 244-6711 or www.toledodiocese.org.

> Through April 6 and May 29, Our Lady Queen of The Most Holy Rosary Cathedral, 2535 Collingwood Blvd. (419) 244-9575, ext. 149, or www.rosarycathedral.org.

Young Artist’s Club: Students in grades one through six can take part in this drawing, ceramics, painting, printmaking and computer art group. 2-3 p.m. April 10 and 24, Locke Branch Library, 703 Miami St. Registration: (419) 259-5310 or www.toledolibrary.org.

Glass Olympics: Faculty and staff from colleges and universities across the country come together in a friendly competition and demonstration of glassblowing skills. 7-10 p.m. April 2, TMA’s Glass Pavilion, 2445 Monroe St. (419) 255-8000 or toledomuseum.org.

Watercoloring: Beginners can learn how to draw and paint using these ethereal paints. 6-9 p.m. April 6, 13 and 27 and May 4, 11 and 25, 577 Foundation, 577 E. Front St., Perrysburg. $60. Registration: (419) 874-4174 or www.577foundation.org.

Imagination Station: This children’s science museum handles some hefty topics in a manner appealing to the entire family. Visitors can take part in the Big Draw, which allows them to contribute to a 4-by-8-foot community artwork by drawing their favorite cartoons. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays and noon-5 Sundays, Summit and Adams streets. $6.50-$8.50. (419) 244-2674 or imaginationstationtoledo.org.

Upcoming and ongoing programming

> “Animation”: Some of the Cartoon Network’s favorite characters will give visitors a peek inside the world of animation. Through May 2.

> “Wise About Eyes”: This exhibit is designed to educate kids (and adults) about ways to keep their eyes healthy and safe. Through June 27.

> Science Story Times: Trained team members will read an interactive story to children in the Little KIDSPACE Science Studio and help them make a related project to take home. Upcoming topics: Spring showers: “Kevin Discovers Spring” by Liesbet Slegers, through April 4; seed’s needs: “The Tiny Seed” by Eric Carle, April 6-11.

TMA Family Center programs: Hands-on art activities for children. Story time tours are offered so young visitors and their adult partners can see art related to the week’s theme (2 p.m. Sundays). Noon-5:30 p.m. Sundays and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2445 Monroe St. (419) 255-8000 or www.toledomuseum.org.

> Landscape: April 1.

> Egg Carton Art: April 4, 6 and 8.

> Insect Art: April 11.

Dr. Seuss Day: Stories, movies and surprises will mark the birthday of the father of the Lorax, Horton and the Cat in the Hat. 3:45-4:30 p.m. April 1, Children’s Program Room, Heatherdowns Branch Library, 3265 Glanzman Road. (419) 259-5270 or www.toledolibrary.org.

It’s Art! Kindergarteners through fourth-graders can discover what they like to draw best. 4-5 p.m. April 1, South Branch Library general space, 1736 Broadway. (419) 259-5395 or www.toledolibrary.org.

Babysitting clinics: Potential au pairs and kiddie watchdogs 11 and older will learn how to handle emergencies, first aid and the unruliest of youngsters in this six-hour American Red Cross course. $30 registration. www.toledolibrary.org.

“Journey on the Underground Railroad”: The Way Public Library is an epicenter for a discussion about the early days of abolition and Ohio’s role in transporting slaves to freedom. A series of events are scheduled this month to cover the topic. 101 E. Indiana Ave., Perrysburg. (419) 874-3135 or www.waylibrary.info.

> “Beyond the River” by Ohio author Ann Hagedorn was chosen for a community read. Discussions about the book will be held at 7 p.m. April 1 and 19; 10 a.m. April 7; and 2 p.m. April 21.

> Hagedorn will speak about the book at 7 p.m. April 15.

> Lourdes College history department chairman Mary Stockwell will speak about the Underground Railroad in Ohio at 2 p.m. April 18.

> Local historian Judy Justus will talk on the evolution of the Underground Railroad as it moved into Ohio. 7 p.m. April 20.

> Patrick Johnson of the Metroparks of the Toledo Area will lead first- through fourth-graders in a hands-on program about the Underground Railroad in northwest Ohio. 4:30 p.m. April 22.

“Diary of a Wimpy Kid”: Kids can play the “Cheese Touch” game or win “Mom Bucks” at this party. 2-2:45 p.m. April 5, Reynolds Corners Branch Library, 4833 Dorr St. (419) 259-5303 or www.toledolibrary.org.

Toledo Area Humane Society spring camp: Kids 7-10 who like animals can tour the TAHS facility, participate in scavenger hunts and crafts, make dog treats and cat toys and play games. For ages. 10 a.m.-noon April 5-7, Toledo Area Humane Society, 1920 Indian Wood Circle, Maumee. $50. Registration: (419) 482-7106 or www.toledoareahumanesociety.org.

Start! Walking Day: The American Heart Association is urging people to make walking a habit, starting with events on April 7. (419) 740-6172 or www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3073449.

So You Want to Be a Rock Star: Teen “Rock Band” virtuosos can compete in an elimination tournament. 1-4 p.m. April 9-10, Toledo Lucas County Main Library, 325 N. Michigan St. Registration: (419) 259-5207 or toledolibrary.org.

Radio Control Model Show: Weak Signals hobby group is sponsoring this expo, dedicate to aircraft, boats and cars of a smaller, but proportional, size. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. April 9-10 and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. April 11, SeaGate Convention Centre, 401 Jefferson Ave. $8. (419) 826-0444 or www.toledoshow.com.

Hearthside cooking class: If you thought working with an oven was hard, try cooking over open flames using 1812-era tools. You won’t take those microwave dinners for granted any more. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. April 10, Fort Meigs State Memorial, 29100 W. River Road, Perrysburg. $30. Reservations: (800) 283-8916.

Film FOCUS independent film festival: The Toledo-Lucas County Public Library has been spotlighting smaller films for 10 years now with this series. The films are unrated; organizers suggest them for adults only. 6:15 p.m. Mondays through April 12, Toledo-Lucas County Main Library’s McMaster Center, 325 Michigan St. (419) 259-5285 or toledolibrary.org.

> “The Window”: Awaiting a visit from his estranged son, a man recalls his life; April 5.

“Sitting Pretty”: Robert Young and Maureen O’Hara star with Clifton Webb who plays the fussy, sharp-tongued Mr. Belvedere, a babysitter in a gossip-laden town. 10 a.m. April 8, Way Public Library, 101 E. Indiana Ave., Perrysburg. (419) 874-3135 or www.waylibrary.info.

> “Star 80”: This movie centers on murdered Playboy centerfold Dorothy Stratten and the men who wanted to make her a star. April 9.

“Half Past Autumn”: This Gordon Parks retrospective also serves as a brief social history of America. 7:30 p.m. April 9, TMA’s Little Theater, 2445 Monroe St. (419) 255-8000 or toledomuseum.org.

“It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World”: This film features some of the greatest comedians of all time. 2 p.m. April 11, Ritz Theatre, 20 S. Washington St., Tiffin. $3. (419) 448-8544 or www.ritztheatre.org.

MUSIC

Blarney Irish Pub: Catch local acts while taking in the pub’s modern Irish and American fare. 601 Monroe St. (419) 418-2339 or www.theblarneyirishpub.com.

> Rick Whited: April 1.

> Jeff Stewart & the 25s: April 2.

> Kentucky Chrome: April 3.

> Mud Hens’ opening day, featuring Jeff Stewart, Mas Fina: April 8.

> Mas Fina: April 9.

> Resonant Soul: April 10.

Bronze Boar: Be sure to check out this Warehouse District tavern’s namesake, overhead near the entrance. 20 S. Huron St. (419) 244-2627 or www.bronzeboar.com.

> Brandon Duke: Wednesdays.

> River’s Edge: April 1.

> Coosters: April 2.

> Bush League: April 3.

> Polka Floyd: April 8.

> Chris Shutters: April 9.

> Crucial 420: April 10.

Brooklyn’s Daily Grind: Coffee and music, what more can one want? If a snack is the answer, this is your spot. 723 Airport Hwy., Holland. (419) 724-1433 or www.brooklynscafe.com.

> Acoustic Jam: 8-11 p.m. April 1.

> Josh Whitney: 8-11 p.m. April 2.

> Jamie Combs: 8-11 p.m. April 3.

> Troy Moore & Joe Howe: 8-11 p.m. April 10.

Caesars Windsor: If you have your passport, consider hopping the Detroit River for this casino’s entertainment offerings. Ticket prices, in Canadian dollars, are for the cheapest seats; attendees must be 19 or older. Caesars Windsor Colosseum, 377 Riverside Dr. East, Windsor, Ontario. (800) 991-7777 or www.caesarswindsor.com.

The Village Idiot: Tunes combined with pizza and booze, some would say it’s a perfect combination. 309 Conant St., Maumee. (419) 893-7281 or www.villageidiotmaumee.com.

> 5 Neat Guys: Wednesdays.

> Mark Mikel: Friday afternoons and Tuesday nights.

> The Bob Rex Band: Sunday afternoons.

> The MacPodz: April 1.

> Mojo Flow, Stretch Lefty: April 2.

> One Under: April 3.

> Theo Katzman Band: April 8.

> Soundhound: April 9.

> Hullaballo: April 10.

Stations of the Cross: The community is invited to take a symbolic walk with Christ on the Via Dolorosa, with accompaniment by the Canterbury Choir, for Good Friday. 7 p.m. April 2, Trinity Episcopal Church, 1 Trinity Plaza. (419) 246-8732 or www.trinitytoledo.org.

Club Friday: Quartet Bernadette. Some of the city’s most talented performers entertain museum-goers during TMA’s It’s Friday events. 6:30-9:30 p.m. April 2, Cloister, 2445 Monroe St. (419) 255-8000 or toledomuseum.org.

Chamber Music Toledo: The Tecumseh Piano Trio will perform works by Haydn, Shostakovich and more. 3 p.m. April 11, First Presbyterian Church of Maumee, 200 E. Broadway, Maumee. $1-$15. (419) 246-8000 or www.chambermusictoledo.org.

TMA Faculty Artist Series: La Belle Musique de France. Instructors, professors and students from UT will perform music from operas. 3 p.m. April 11, Great Gallery, 2445 Monroe St. (419) 255-8000 or toledomuseum.org.

Walk MS: Get out your sneakers and support the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. It could improve your health and that of those with the neuromuscular disease. 8 a.m. April 11, UT Health Education Building, on Stadium Drive, 2801 W. Bancroft St. (419) 897-9533 or www.nationalmssociety.org/oho.

SPRINGTIME

Hop to It: Kids can get in a word with the Big Bunny at this photo opportunity. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays through April 3, Westfield Franklin Park food court, 5001 Monroe St. $20-$49. (419) 473-3317 or westfield.com/franklinpark.

“Come, Touch the Robe”: This Easter musical details the meaning Christ had for those who were with him during his last days on Earth. 7 p.m. April 2, Garden Park Christian Church, 8605 Salisbury Road, Monclova. (419) 868-7700 or www.gardenpark.org.

Animal Egg Hunt: The Easter Bunny will stop at the zoo on Good Friday, leaving special treats for the zoo animals to find. 10:15 a.m.-3:15 p.m. April 2, Toledo Zoo, 2700 Broadway. $8-$11. (419) 385-4040 or toledozoo.org.

“The Spring Skies Over Toledo”: Amateur star-gazers can learn what they’re looking at in this program about constellations, planets and associated mythologies. 7:30 p.m. April 2, 9 and 16, UT’s Ritter Planetarium, 2801 W. Bancroft St. $5-$6. (419) 530-4037, (419) 530-2650 or www.rpbo.utoledo.edu.

Breakfast with the Bunny: Live music and giveaways, plus pancakes with Peter Cottontail. 8:30 and 10 a.m. April 3, Granite City, Shops at Fallen Timbers, 3100 Main St., Maumee. $7. (419) 878-6255 or www.theshopsatfallentimbers.com.

Easter Bunny Breakfast/Lunch & Hayride: Kids can dine with King Coney, then take a hayride with him to his egg patch, where finds will be rewarded. Farm animals will be available for petting, too. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. April 3, Country Lane Tree Farm, 3525 N. Bolander Road, Genoa. $7-$8. (419) 461-1298 or countrylanetreefarm.com.

“Wicked”: This alternate tale of what happened in Oz details the lives of two witches (and friends) with different agendas. 8 p.m. March 31, April 6-10 and 13-17; 2 p.m. April 1, 10-11, 17-18; and 7:30 p.m. April 11 and 18, Stranahan Theater, 4645 Heatherdowns Blvd. $40-$125. (419) 381-8851, (800) 745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com.

“And the Winner Is …”: Mitch Albom wrote this play about a narcissistic movie star who dies the night before the Oscar ceremony. Determined to know if he wins, he bargains to return to Earth for the big night. 7:30 p.m. April 8-10 and 3 p.m. April 11, Owens Community College Center for Fine and Performing Arts, 30335 Oregon Road, Perrysburg. $10-$12. (567) 661-2787, (800) 466-9367, ext. 2787, or www.owens.edu/arts/.

“Creation/Doomsday”: UT’s theater department will present an excerpt from a collection of biblical stories written in rhyming verse and performed in the town of Chester, England, between the 14th and 16th centuries. 7-7:30 p.m. April 9, TMA Cloister, 2445 Monroe St. (419) 255-8000 or toledomuseum.org.

Festival of One Acts: The Lourdes College Drama Society will produce a handful of short plays, including “1-900-Desperate,” “The Tooth Hurts” and “Name That Neurotoxin.” 7 p.m. April 9-10 and 2 p.m. April 11, Ebeid Student Center, Delp Hall, Lourdes College, 6832 Convent Blvd., Sylvania. $5. (419) 517-8881 or www.lourdes.edu/dramasociety.

Gish Film Theater: Named in memory of Dorothy and Lillian Gish, this theater hosts screenings of international and arthouse movies and matinees of popular films of the past. BGSU’s Hanna Hall, East Wooster Street, Bowling Green. (419) 372-4474 or www.bgsu.edu/gish.

> “After the End of the World”: The world of an ethnic melting pot is disrupted by political changes. 7:30 p.m. April 1.

> “The Outlaw”: This Western, directed by Howard Hughes and starring Jane Russell, takes on the legend of Billy the Kid. 3 p.m. April 4.

> “Sita Sings the Blues”: Animation, film genres, eras, jazz music and more are combined in this revision of the Eastern story of Prince Rama and his faithful wife Sita as their love is tested. 7:30 p.m. April 6.

Melissa Fraterrigo: This BGSU creative writing graduate and winner of the Tartt First Fiction Award and Sam Adams/Zoetrope All-Story Short Fiction Contest will read from her fiction. 7:30 p.m. April 1, Prout Chapel, off Thurston Avenue, BGSU, Bowling Green. (419) 372-7543 or www.bgsu.edu/departments/english.

“The Wright Way to Fly”: A multimedia show about how Ohio’s native brothers invented the airplane. 8 p.m. April 2, BGSU Planetarium, Room 112, Physical Sciences Lab Building, near North College Drive and East Merry Avenue, Bowling Green. $1. (419) 372-8666 or physics.bgsu.edu/planetarium.

John Barnes: This artist will display his watercolors. Reception: 5-7 p.m. April 2; exhibition: 1-4 p.m. Thursdays and Saturdays, 4-7 p.m. Fridays, April 2-30, Arts in Common Gallery, South Main School, 437 S. Main St., Bowling Green. www.artsincommon.org.

Wood County Historical Center & Museum spring opening: Check out this rural jewel’s new exhibits, including the local version of the Smithsonian’s “Between Fences” show about community boundaries, and tour the museum and buildings to see blacksmith forge demonstrations and historic equipment. Open at 1 p.m. April 3; regular hours, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays and 1-4 p.m. weekends (closed holidays), Wood County Historical Center & Museum, 13360 County Home Road, Bowling Green. $1-$4. (419) 352-0967 or www.woodcountyhistory.org.

A Day with Morton Feldman: This tribute will feature concerts and presentations about the music of one of the 20th century’s most influential composers. 2:30 p.m. April 10, Bryan Recital Hall; 8 p.m. April 10, Kobacker Hall, both in BGSU’s Moore Musical Arts Center, Willard Drive and Ridge Street, Bowling Green. (419) 372-8171, (800) 589-2224, (419) 372-8888 or www.bgsu.edu/music/MACCM.

“Between Fences”: A program about fences and boundaries within communities will be followed by peek at the Smithsonian traveling exhibit of the same name and tea. 2 p.m. April 8, Wood County Historical Center & Museum, 13360 County Home Road, Bowling Green. $3-$12. Reservations: (419) 352-0967. www.woodcountyhistory.org.

Brown Bag Music Series: Digest with the aid of musical accompaniment, provided by the Bowling Green Parks and Recreation Department and the BGSU College of Musical Arts. 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m. April 9, Simpson Building, 1291 Conneaut Ave., Bowling Green. www.bgohio.org.

> “A History of the Bible From Ancient Papyri to King James”: This exhibit follows the word of God from its written start to the 1611 version. Through March 31, Audubon Room.

> “The Ghost Army”: Learn about this Army unit, consisting many of inflatable tanks and sound effects completed its June 1944 mission in Normandy without firing a shot. Through May 4, Room 100/Gallery.

> Sukhee Ryu reading: This Korea Foundation Creative Arts fellow will read from her short story collection. 4-5 p.m. March 31, Gallery/Room 100.

> “A World Without Ice”: Authors Henry Pollack and Richard Rood will discuss their book about the why ice matters. 5:30-7:30 p.m. April 14, Gallery/Room 100.

University of Michigan Museum of Art: This museum has the largest collection of Asian art in Michigan. 525 S. State St., Ann Arbor, Mich. (734) 763-8662 or www.umma.umich.edu.

> “UMMA Projects: Cory Arcangel.” This artist gained acclaim for reworking obsolete video game systems, and his techniques have grown to encompass imagery and sound from popular culture. Through April 11.

> “Tradition Transformed: Chang Ku-nien, Master Painter of the 20th Century.” This artist was a practitioner of the ancient style of Chinese painting. Through April 18.

> “An Economy of Means: The Dorothy and Herbert Vogel Collection.” This exhibit showcases one ordinary couple’s devotion to the aesthetic. The reference library and postal service employee devoted half of their income to their collection, which includes conceptual and minimal art. Through May 2.

“WSG Invites Family and Friends”: This exhibition focused on 16 artists, who then each asked a creative friend to also display their works. Noon-10 April 1-3, WSG Gallery, 306 S. Main St., Ann Arbor, Mich. (734) 761-2287 or www.wsg-art.com.

The Healing Garden: Spring pops out at this interactive display that features the scents, colors, textures and forms of the world’s seasonal rebirth. Visitors can learn about the benefits of exercise, meditation and close contact with nature. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Wednesdays; 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays-Sundays through April 4, UM Matthaei Botanical Gardens conservatory, 1800 N. Dixboro Road, Ann Arbor, Mich. $2-$5. (734) 647-7600 or www.lsa.umich.edu/mbg/.

“About Face”: A baker’s dozen of artists present an exhibition of portraits of friends, family and community members who posed in street clothes or period costumes, with a variety of interpretations. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays through April 10, Side Door Gallery, inside the Dexter Picture Frame Co., 8063 Main St., Dexter, Mich. (734) 426-1581 or www.thesidedoorgallery.com.

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